Sixers' Ben Simmons learned tough lesson facing Kawhi Leonard

Sixers' Ben Simmons learned tough lesson facing Kawhi Leonard

The Philadelphia 76ers aren’t playing to the level that prognosticators thought they would coming into the 2018-19 season, dropping to 4-4 on the season after a 129-112 loss to the Toronto Raptors.

A part of the Sixers’ struggles in the game against the Raptors was the fact that the team committed 23 turnovers, many of which were of the live-ball variety and this led to Toronto running in transition. The Raptors beat the Sixers at their own game by getting out on the fastbreak and outscoring them 27-12 in transition.

The main culprit of the turnover extravaganza was Ben Simmons who committed 11 turnovers in the game, seven of which were live ball turnovers leading to points on the other end.

When the reigning Rookie of the Year, was asked what it was like being defended by Kawhi Leonard, he responded by calling him “a freak.”

Last night was the first game Simmons had to face off against the defensive stalwart in Leonard and after the game was very complimentary of his hands. The Sixers guard also detailed what he learned from facing the two-time Defensive Player of the Year:

“Patience with the ball, taking care of it – especially when you have an elite defender like Kawhi on you with great hands. You just have to take care of it, be more assertive when you have a ball.” Simmons told reporters.

Kawhi finished the game with four steals, all of which came against Simmons.

In this first clip, Kawhi just reaches his hands in the cookie jar and is able to dislodge the ball from Simmons as he struggles to gain control of the rock.

In the second clip, Leonard uses quick feet to impede Simmons’ path to the basket and when Philly’s guard realizes that he has nowhere to go with the ball, is forced to pick up his dribble and look to pass back. At that point, Leonard is able to deflect his potential pass and take off.

Simmons will not face players of Leonard’s athletic stature on a nightly basis and he is one of the few players in the league that is actually a physical matchup problem for the Sixers guard. While Simmons needs to be more secure with the basketball, part of the way Toronto was able to stop him was by funneling him to potential trap spots on the floor due to his lack of shooting.

Too many times Simmons drove to the basket without even looking at the rim with the total intention of passing, and the Raptors were waiting for it.

The next level of Simmons’ game includes being aggressive with the ball in his hands and not playing into the strategy of the defense. His first game against Leonard was a much-needed lesson and will certainly only make Simmons a better player after having gone through it.